Bill Kollar

Published: Sunday, August 31, 2014 at 01:05 PM.

William “Bill“ Kollar, 52, of Tallahassee and St. George Island, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, Aug. 28, 2014 in Tallahassee.

Bill was born on Oct. 5, 1961 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He came to Tallahassee in 1982 and has split time between Tallahassee and the coast ever since.

He is survived by his wife, Amanda Pace Kollar, two sons, Harrison and Hans, and Hans’ mother Loreen Yerger Kollar; his sisters Kathy Kollar and Mariella Meinhold, and two brothers Christopher and Steven Kollar.

Bill leaves behind a very large extended family, his mother-in-law Shirley Pace, father-in-law and wife Jeff and Linda Pace, brothers-in-law Jake and Wray Pace, and many nieces and nephews, all of whom will miss their “Uncle B” terribly.

Bill was from “up north,” but as he always said, “I got to the south as soon as I could.” Bill attended Florida A & M University and graduated with a degree in landscape design. Over the course of 30-plus years, he worked with many friends and clients; if a client wasn’t already a friend, they quickly became one. Bill’s design work can be seen in many beautiful landscapes in Tallahassee, Apalachicola and St. George Island.

He and Amanda created a business together, Gardens, Inc. in 2000. They moved to St. George Island in 2005 and a few years later opened a retail store in Apalachicola called The Garden Shop. Bill brought to the business a keen eye for design and a vast knowledge of indigenous plants. He specialized in the use of native plants to enhance and preserve the landscape along the coast. Bill’s ability to combine his extensive knowledge with his storyteller’s heart is part of what makes him special to us all.

Bill was proud to have received his charter boat captain’s license in 2013. To say that Bill was at home on the water would be an understatement, it was his sanctuary. His greatest joy, however, was participating in the lives of his two sons, Hans, 20, and Harrison, 3. Hans, his oldest son, is in his third year at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co. Bill was always an active and involved father and took an immense amount of pride in seeing the growth and the accomplishments of both of his boys.

William “Bill“ Kollar, 52, of Tallahassee and St. George Island, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, Aug. 28, 2014 in Tallahassee.

Bill was born on Oct. 5, 1961 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He came to Tallahassee in 1982 and has split time between Tallahassee and the coast ever since.

He is survived by his wife, Amanda Pace Kollar, two sons, Harrison and Hans, and Hans’ mother Loreen Yerger Kollar; his sisters Kathy Kollar and Mariella Meinhold, and two brothers Christopher and Steven Kollar.

Bill leaves behind a very large extended family, his mother-in-law Shirley Pace, father-in-law and wife Jeff and Linda Pace, brothers-in-law Jake and Wray Pace, and many nieces and nephews, all of whom will miss their “Uncle B” terribly.

Bill was from “up north,” but as he always said, “I got to the south as soon as I could.” Bill attended Florida A & M University and graduated with a degree in landscape design. Over the course of 30-plus years, he worked with many friends and clients; if a client wasn’t already a friend, they quickly became one. Bill’s design work can be seen in many beautiful landscapes in Tallahassee, Apalachicola and St. George Island.

He and Amanda created a business together, Gardens, Inc. in 2000. They moved to St. George Island in 2005 and a few years later opened a retail store in Apalachicola called The Garden Shop. Bill brought to the business a keen eye for design and a vast knowledge of indigenous plants. He specialized in the use of native plants to enhance and preserve the landscape along the coast. Bill’s ability to combine his extensive knowledge with his storyteller’s heart is part of what makes him special to us all.

Bill was proud to have received his charter boat captain’s license in 2013. To say that Bill was at home on the water would be an understatement, it was his sanctuary. His greatest joy, however, was participating in the lives of his two sons, Hans, 20, and Harrison, 3. Hans, his oldest son, is in his third year at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co. Bill was always an active and involved father and took an immense amount of pride in seeing the growth and the accomplishments of both of his boys.

A memorial celebration of Bill’s life is planned for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2 at the Miccosukee Land Co-Op. Friends are invited to visit with the family, at their home, 3897 Long and Winding Road on Monday, Sept. 1 from 4 to 8 p.m.